CJ Stander: Munster must up the ante big time

CJ Stander is under no illusions he and Munster will need a major step up in class if they are to hold their own against French Top 14 champions Racing 92 in Paris on Sunday.

Munster’s final Guinness PRO12 game before switching focus to their Champions Cup pool campaign this weekend ended in a deserved 25-14 defeat to arch rivals Leinster on Saturday in Dublin.

While Ronan O’Gara’s Parisians were putting a disappointing start to the domestic title defence to bed with a derby victory of their own, a 29-22 win over Stade Francais at Stade Yves du Manoir, Munster were contributing to their own downfall at the Aviva.